• Kenya and China signed four memoranda of understanding covering agriculture, livestock, trade, and early harvests.
• The agreements aim to expand Kenyan exports to China duty-free and quota-free starting May 2026.
• Bilateral trade reached $10.2 billion in 2025, with China as Kenya’s top trading partner.

Kenya and China advanced their economic partnership by signing four memoranda of understanding (MoUs), the Kenyan presidency announced on March 24.

The MoUs cover a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, livestock, trade, and early harvests, linked to a framework agreement on economic cooperation for shared development.

“The framework agreement strengthens our trade links and expands Kenyan product access to the Chinese market duty-free and quota-free starting in May,” said William Ruto.

Kenya and China enjoy cordial diplomatic relations that are anchored on shared interests.

We are strengthening our trade ties through the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development, which expands access for Kenyan products to the Chinese market at… pic.twitter.com/veZUelYH09

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) March 24, 2026

The agreements aim to boost Kenyan exports and support local processing in strategic sectors. Both governments also cooperate in transportation, agriculture, education, and technological innovation.

Over the decades, bilateral relations intensified, culminating in a global strategic partnership status in 2017. In January 2026, Kenya concluded a preliminary trade deal with China granting 98.2% of Kenyan exports duty-free access to the Chinese market.

China remains Kenya’s largest trading partner. Conversely, Kenya is China’s top partner in East Africa. According to the International Trade Centre, bilateral trade reached $10.2 billion in 2025.  

This article was initially published in French by Ingrid Haffiny

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum